Serious injuries avoided in Christmas Eve collision when 9 women, children buckle up

Gray Ford Windstar carrying 6 passengers extensively damaged in collision on West State Street, Hurricane, Utah, Dec. 24, 2015 | Photo by Cody Blowers, St. George News

HURRICANE — Two cars collided when a van carrying 7 people failed to yield to oncoming traffic and was struck by another vehicle while attempting to cross West State Street in Hurricane Christmas Eve.

Approaching scene of head on collision 2260 W State Street, Hurricane, Utah, Dec. 24, 2015 | Photo by Cody Blowers, St. George News
Approaching scene of head on collision 2260 West State Street, Hurricane, Utah, Dec. 24, 2015 | Photo by Cody Blowers, St. George News

Around 4:30 p.m., Hurricane City Police officers were alerted to an accident at the intersection of South 2500 West and West State Street, where a 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse collided with a 2007 Ford Windstar van,  Hurricane Police Sgt. Brandon Buell said.

The van, carrying 7 women and children, pulled out from South 2500 West and was hit by the Mitsubishi driven by an 18-year old female heading eastbound on West State Street.  The driver of the Mitsubishi, attempting to avoid the collision, swerved and struck the van, sending it spinning around until it finally came to rest in the center lane of West State Street, Buell said.

The van, driven by a 31-year-old woman, was carrying six passengers, five of them children and a 57-year-old woman in the front passenger seat.

Red Mitsubishi Eclipse damaged in collision on West State Street, Hurricane, Utah, Dec. 24, 2015 | Photo by Cody Blowers, St. George News
Red Mitsubishi Eclipse damaged in collision on West State Street, Hurricane, Utah, Dec. 24, 2015 | Photo by Cody Blowers, St. George News

Minor injuries were reported but the driver and occupants declined transport to the hospital, Buell said.

The Mitsubishi suffered extensive damage to the front passenger side of the vehicle, and minor injuries were reported by the driver and her 5-year-old passenger, but both declined transport to the hospital.  Both were wearing seat belts but the child was not in a child-restraining device,  Buell said.

This accident could have been so much worse, Buell said, “but all occupants were wearing their seat belts.”

Airbags deployed in both vehicles, and both were rendered inoperable from the collision and towed from the scene.

IMG_8920The driver of the van was cited for failure to yield, and a written warning was issued to the driver of the Mitsubishi for failing to secure the 5-year-old in a child-restraint device, Buell said.

Hurricane City Police and Hurricane Valley Fire and Rescue responded to the accident and traffic was diverted into one lane for 45 minutes as they tended to the scene, Buell said.

This report is based on preliminary information provided by law enforcement or other emergency responders and may not contain the full scope of findings.

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2 Comments

  • Jess December 25, 2015 at 11:29 pm

    The child could have been seriously injured or KILLED from not being in a child seat. All she got was a WARNING?!

  • .... December 26, 2015 at 2:21 pm

    Yeah she must had her temple recommend card with her

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